Heller calls Democrats' Iraq timeline reckless

Apr. 2, 2007

Written by

Associated Press Writer

Freshman Republican U.S. Rep. Dean Heller echoed President Bush on Tuesday in saying congressional Democrats are being "reckless" in setting a timeline for a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

The congressman, who last week voted against a Democrat-backed war spending measure requiring that troops come home before September 2008, said Congress shouldn't "try to manage this war by setting arbitrary timelines and reckless dates for withdrawal."

"That accomplishes nothing but to enhance and empower the enemy," Heller told state lawmakers.

Bush on Tuesday called the move by Democrats irresponsible, renewing veto threats on Senate and House bills calling for troop withdrawals and saying both measures "undercut the troops."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., says he will try to eliminate money for the war if Bush rejects Congress' proposal to set a deadline to end combat.

Heller repeated his remarks in a news conference after his speech to legislators, saying the job of Congress is to declare a war and then decide whether or not to fund it and "anything in between those two things is wrong."

"There's no upside to losing this war," Heller said, adding that the result would be "fighting it on the shores of America."

Heller also said the decisions on waging the war should be made by military generals, adding, "What our soldiers do not need is 535 generals (in Congress) that were boldly for the war before they were boldly against it."

Heller's comments again demonstrated the sharp division between Republicans and Democrats in Nevada's congressional delegation. While he's in line with Rep. Jon Porter, R-Henderson, he's at odds with Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Las Vegas, who said Nevadans overwhelmingly support the goal of withdrawing troops from Iraq.

Heller said he voted against the proposed federal budget last week because it could result in tax hikes of up to 50 percent in the lowest tax brackets. He also said the plan reinstates a federal inheritance tax, reduces child tax credits and increases capital gains and dividend taxes.

The impact on a family of four would be an increase of nearly $3,000 in taxes, Heller said.